Just up the mountain from the village center, Satomiya Shrine is the first sacred stop along the Ontake Pilgrimage Trail. It has historically been a place to pray for safe passage and an enlightening journey, and make one’s presence on the mountain known. Satomiya was first built in the late 1400s, replacing a much older shrine that had been honored by the villagers for centuries before. It’s closely linked to the shrine on Ontake’s summit.
After the first 67 steps from the main shrine gate near the road, you pass through a moss covered second gate and enter a complex of smaller shrines. Stop a moment to purify yourself with the pure spring water at the temizuya. The customary handwashing etiquette is to hold a dipper with your right hand and scoop some water; poor it over your left hand; take the dipper in your left hand and do the reverse; return the dipper to your right hand, pour water into your left, and rinse your mouth (spitting the water out discreetly to the side of (not in) the basin).
When finished, ascend the first short flight of steps and ring the bell with one of the mallets to announce your presence.
From there, 381 steps rise through a dense grove of hinoki and sawara cypress to the main shrine nestled against the cliffs at the top.
After the climb, you reach the complex with the main shrine dedicated to the deities of Mt. Ontake. To pay your respects like a local:
- Toss a coin into the slotted box in front of the shrine (5 yen coins are meant to bring particularly good luck).
- Shake the bells above with the dangling rope to announce your presence
- Compose yourself. Be mindful of your body and surroundings.
- Bow twice
- Clap twice. Pause with hands folded and offer a sense of gratitude.
- Bow once again.
Be sure to bring an empty water bottle to fill up at the pure spring that bubbles from the cliffs beside the shrine.
Back below, wooden Mt. Ontake talismans available from the shrine shop make great gifts and souvenirs. If you’ll be doing other hiking, you can also get a wooden walking stick used by pilgrims with the shrine’s name burned into it. This is a common practice at mountain huts and shrines around Japan.
Also, keep an eye open for the large troupe of monkeys that lives on the mountain above the cliffs. If they’re around, you won’t be able to miss them!
Otaki Experience 